OT - In these weird times

[JJ]

Harrigan and Weekes were f**king criminal in that era

Souths and Tigers were the best in 89, funny how neither got there, things could have been very different

 

[Mr Angry]

I want the Warriors to prosper more than ever.

Even if it Kearney gets called King of New Zealand.

Sadly few of my wishes come true

That will not happen, so can you take over Victoria, gentlemen like with manners, with ladies involved in the strategy? Kiwis be awesome.

Do an Angry man a solid.

Dan Carter could run it.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Game was just a bit more real or raw back then

playwrs in those days were semi pro by today’s standards, their fitness and conditioning was NSW Cup level at best. But it meant they relied on football brains and skills more, they were footballers more than athletes

 

[Rich102]

And competitive.
A loss really hurt.
Other than just a big pay packet.

 

[JJ]

playwrs in those days were semi pro by today’s standards, their fitness and conditioning was NSW Cup level at best. But it meant they relied on football brains and skills more, they were footballers more than athletes

and fatigue came in...

Really enjoyed watching Davidson, Fenech, Roberts, Boyle, Andrews, Sedaris and Chisholm go head-to-head with Roach, Sironen, McGuire, Pearce Elias, and Edmed - like you say, the ball play, offloading etc was great, the skills immense...

Two amazing packs - shame neither won a comp... the reputation for both was ferocious, but watching now the ball play and attacking skills were all there... And players like Andrews, Chisholm, McGuire and Pearce were relentless

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Just watching that game now, just something about it that is better to watch, balls moves around the park so much and they aren’t scared of making errors. Like the old rules as well like how the marker could win the ball in the ruck, Elias was a master at it, shit he was a good player, watching some of these old games I realise what a player Freeman was too, and not afraid to put a bit of crap on the big boys like Roberts and Davidson too

If they trained full time back then like they do now, you’d probably be talking about Sironen as a Taumalolo type player, unstoppable at times

 

[Blair]

I was just mentally adjusting to being back in 2020, now you've gone all 1989 on me. I have to go back again. Another great year. Enormous strides for the game in NZ, I recall the common room at the university dorm packed for live Origin. Both sexes in there two, broad appeal.

Ditto the GF, kick-off about 5pm (NZT) Sunday. Almost a nation-stopper.

Souths were Minor-Premiers. I'll start with that Souths v Tigers JJ mentioned...and it'll peak soon after I hear that crack on the cross bar, the Elias field goal that would've won the GF for the Tigers. As you will know by now, Canberra were my team.

I know I've got a few ace RLW newspapers at my parents place in Ch.Ch. I wish I could pull those out too.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

89 was just before my time but stepdad filled me in on a lot of stuff.

Just looking though the Sky guide for the week and each day they are replaying entire origin series. 1991, 1994, 2005, 2006, 2012

I’ll have to head over to the parents place and grab a lot of my old books and stuff I think, have a big pile of old RLWs and autobiographies there, first one I ever read was Tiger Tiger Kiwi Rooster about Freeman

 

[Beavers Headgear]

RIP Arthur Summons

Thanks for the iconic image that will stay with Rugby League forever

 

[Blair]

89 was just before my time but stepdad filled me in on a lot of stuff.

Just looking though the Sky guide for the week and each day they are replaying entire origin series. 1991, 1994, 2005, 2006, 2012

I’ll have to head over to the parents place and grab a lot of my old books and stuff I think, have a big pile of old RLWs and autobiographies there, first one I ever read was Tiger Tiger Kiwi Rooster about Freeman

It's generally agreed that '89 was the greatest ever grand final. Have you seen (and heard) Benny's crack on the cross bar? It's magnificent.

It's funny, isn't it. We naturally have a greater affinity with things we lived through, and can recall as vivid memories. Occasionally though, things can pop up and it still hits you in the spot. Pele, the Brazilians, and the 1970 WC in Mexico is one of those for me. I was three months old, there's no living memory of it. I can watch it all day.

Even though in 1989 you were probably knee high, I hope the highlights of that year is one of those moments.

Oh, and the '91 Origin? Best Origin ever.

 

[Blair]

RIP Arthur Summons

Thanks for the iconic image that will stay with Rugby League forever

He was unfortunate to come up against that unstoppable St George side of the Sixties.

 

[JJ]

lot of great grand finals in that era - 89 had the drama of the extra time, and Ryan fatal;y taking off Roach and Sironen... I remain convinced the third best team won the premiership that season

As a Penrith fan, I loved the 91 Grand Final - Penrith were the better team, and should have gone on to greatness... Canberra were a great team, they were a bit busted (but people forget that Geyer, Cartwright and Izzard were carrying severe injuries too) - the drama that day was huge - the disallowed Penrith try (and it was a try), Geyer being binned fir appropriately calling Harrigan and Weekes cheats, Daley taking the ball off Izzard to save a try (and not being penalised), Meninga's heroics (especially the try saver - on either Barwick or Carter, I forget), Geyer coming back possessed, Fittler coming of age... the immense Penrith pack - Dunn, Cartwright, Geyer all had big reps, but Clarke, Walker, van der Voort more than matched Canberra... Clyde getting the Churchill medal (wrongly) but he was just a flat out great forward, and Roycie... two tries in his last game...

Ahhh... That's my favourite game ever... two great teams, one on the up, one at the end... of course Penrith's impending dynasty was crushed by a tragedy, and Canberra re-tooled to re-emerge as great in the mid 90s... with a distinctly Kiwi flavour

 

[Blair]

lot of great grand finals in that era - 89 had the drama of the extra time, and Ryan fatal;y taking off Roach and Sironen... I remain convinced the third best team won the premiership that season

As a Penrith fan, I loved the 91 Grand Final - Penrith were the better team, and should have gone on to greatness... Canberra were a great team, they were a bit busted (but people forget that Geyer, Cartwright and Izzard were carrying severe injuries too) - the drama that day was huge - the disallowed Penrith try (and it was a try), Geyer being binned fir appropriately calling Harrigan and Weekes cheats, Daley taking the ball off Izzard to save a try (and not being penalised), Meninga's heroics (especially the try saver - on either Barwick or Carter, I forget), Geyer coming back possessed, Fittler coming of age... the immense Penrith pack - Dunn, Cartwright, Geyer all had big reps, but Clarke, Walker, van der Voort more than matched Canberra... Clyde getting the Churchill medal (wrongly) but he was just a flat out great forward, and Roycie... two tries in his last game...

Ahhh... That's my favourite game ever... two great teams, one on the up, one at the end... of course Penrith's impending dynasty was crushed by a tragedy, and Canberra re-tooled to re-emerge as great in the mid 90s... with a distinctly Kiwi flavour

That's like a Greek epic! And it's all true. You did leave out Toddy in the grind of that second-half, when Penrith had all the possession. He was a machine.

Allow me a bit of 'name-dropping'. I watched that game with Glen Larmer, at his mate Muzza's place, in Palmy. I can't recall his exact commentary throughout the increasingly stressful (for me, Raiders all the way) afternoon but it was a pleasant time in general that day.

 

[Blair]

Guys, let's be careful.

We're churning out the SOGS.

Sentimental Old Guy Stuff.

I think, crowds or no crowds, we need 2020 to get going. The sooner the better.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Just watched the first half of the 81 GF, unfortunately have had to turn it off as Voss is trying that hard to be funny he is ruining it

 

[JJ]

Just watched the first half of the 81 GF, unfortunately have had to turn it off as Voss is trying that hard to be funny he is ruining it

Was that Newtown v Eels?

Old Gus was clever

Brett Kenny remains my all time favourite I think

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Was that Newtown v Eels?

Old Gus was clever

Brett Kenny remains my all time favourite I think

Yep that’s the one, Gus was quality, the set move with a kick back over his own head was a beauty

Kenny was very clever in his first try with a little goose step to keep Ferguson at bay

 

[Mr Angry]

The hair bears, Roosters hate 'em.

Tony Puletua 2003 makes anyside ever.

I loved them and Preston, so much love.

Angry at other times, that bought me joy.

 

[Blair]

The hair bears, Roosters hate 'em.

Tony Puletua 2003 makes anyside ever.

I loved them and Preston, so much love.

Angry at other times, that bought me joy.

Angry, mate, you're not making sense.

 

[Blair]

Yep that’s the one, Gus was quality, the set move with a kick back over his own head was a beauty

Kenny was very clever in his first try with a little goose step to keep Ferguson at bay

Anyone who bemoans the loss of Newtown from the competition needs to head over there, now, for a reality check. You're not getting a footy club from there any more.

Don't get me wrong, I like the current flavour of Newtown, but where are the players coming from? When all you see are trendy hipsters, and a vibrant LGTBI community?

Is Ponsonby a similar comparison? I believe so. Ditto Fitzroy in Melbourne (the once home of Fitzroy AFL club).